I just compared the best trading apps available right now, because I was looking to start with a small amount of money and honestly didn’t know where to begin. What surprised me is that you no longer need to be a millionaire to get into this—there are platforms that let you start with just $5 or $20.

I looked at five options, and they’re all regulated and work decently. MiTrade seemed the easiest to use if you’re a beginner—no complications, low spreads, and you can try with $50,000 in virtual funds before risking your real money. AvaTrade is more for people who already know what they’re doing and want MetaTrader 4 or 5. Plus500 has a huge catalog of assets, including futures, so if you’re looking for variety, it’s there. XM offers crazy leverage (up to 1000x), but be careful—that’s high risk. And eToro is the odd one out because it has copy trading—basically copying what better traders do.

What I noticed is that all of them have low or zero commissions, but they charge you through spreads or inactivity fees. Nothing is free, obviously. If you’re new, MiTrade or eToro are the best trading apps because they don’t overwhelm you. If you already have experience, AvaTrade or XM give you more tools and leverage.

The reality is that the choice depends on what kind of trader you want to be. But before putting in real money, practice in demo mode and understand that all of this involves risk. It’s not magic.